Speak the Truth

(Ephesians 4:25)

There is one thing that people all over the world despise, whether Christians or not, and that is a liar. Everybody universally hates lies and liars because they cannot be trusted.

This scripture today exhorts those in Christ to turn away from falsehoods and lies and to speak the truth always with those around us.

God is a god of truth, and Jesus came to proclaim the truth of the gospel so that we may find the truth. How will that be possible if we do not always speak the truth?

Why is truth necessary?

Speaking the truth is essential. In all transactions in this world it is essential that they be carried out truthfully and the truth is plain to see.

Lies and falsehoods are exposed and laid open by the truth.

If you think about the legal systems where there are two opponents in any case, the fundamental aim of the court is to determine truth from lies. Where lies prevail, truth is cast down and all manner of evil and wrongdoing exists. But the truth exposes lies and liars for what they are.

Consider this scripture, which is one of the better known verses from the bible.

Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

The function of the truth as we see in this scripture is to set us free. In every instance where the truth prevails, people are set free. They are freed from tyranny, opposition, lies, the power hungry, the greedy and many other evils.

From a Christian perspective, the truth sets us free from condemnation of the law, sin and death. And the truth is found in Jesus Christ alone.

Another reason that truth is necessary is to build trust.

We trust Jesus Christ and God because they speak only the truth. There are no lies or half truths in them but only the whole truth.

In the same way, if we are to be counted as trustworthy, we too must speak the truth at all times so that people will learn to trust what we say. A person who speaks the truth is someone that people can count on when they are needed.

To whom should we speak the truth?

The simple answer is: Everyone.

The scripture under review today makes that plain and clear.

Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25)

This scripture tells us that we need to put away all falsehoods and lies and to speak the truth with our “neighbours.”

The question that then arises is: “Who is my neighbour?”

Fortunately, Jesus answered that question for us in the teaching he gave on the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10, verses 29-37. A lawyer had asked Jesus this very same question and Jesus used the teaching to explain exactly who is your neighbour.

Without going into the parable too deeply, the Samaritan provided the necessary help and service to a man beaten and left for dead by a band of robbers. However, a priest and a Levite who also saw the man did nothing.

It was the Samaritan who acted in the way of a neighbour to the man suffering, even though he did not know the man. The Samaritan saw the need and took the necessary steps to provide for the needs of the man to relieve his suffering. This is the act of a neighbour.

A neighbour is not just a member of your family or a brother or sister in the church. A neighbour can be anyone that you happen to come into contact with. In fact you are my neighbour right now as you read my words, and as such I have a responsibility in the Lord to speak the truth to you, which I have done and am doing to the best of my knowledge.

So your neighbour could be anyone at all. And when the scripture tells us to “…speak the truth with his neighbour…” then we are to speak the truth with all people.

What is truth?

This is another question in the bible that was posed by Pontius Pilate when Jesus was brought before him for judgement.

Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth? (John 18:37-38)

Jesus said that those who hear and heed the voice and the words of Jesus, and who are of the truth will know the truth. Jesus will open the truth up to them so they understand it and can follow the truth that is in Jesus Christ.

There are many things in the world and also in the churches today that are not of the truth and that have nothing to do with the truth. In fact at the time of writing this post I am writing it on Easter Sunday, which is meant to be a high holiday in the Christian world.

However, the practice of keeping Easter and many of the tings associated with it are not of the truth. They are of pagan origins and have nothing to do with the truth. The intent of Easter is to remember the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we are not told in the bible to remember in this way. And that is apart from the world rubbish of easter eggs, chocolate and hot cross buns, none of which have any religious or scriptural significance or meaning.

In the bible we are told to remember the Lord’s death and resurrection and what He did for us through the process of breaking of bread or taking communion. This is what the scripture tells us to do:

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Notice at the end of verse 24 Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me…” He did not say to have an Easter celebration at the supposed time of His death, which was actually at the Jewish Passover and in most years does NOT coincide with the Easter holiday. No, Jesus said to remember Him through the breaking of bread and taking the cup.

So the truth is not something that can be readily found unless you are looking for it. Many in the churches will look at Easter and presume it is a matter of truth, but it is not. Likewise, and even worse, are the traditions of Christmas which are even further from the truth than Easter. There is nothing, absolutely nothing in the celebrations of Christmas that has any bearing on the truth or any basis in the bible. It is a complete fabrication of man and is of pagan origins.

But the truth MUST be found and can be found if you look for it diligently.

God wants His people to know the truth and He will open up the truth to those who seek and question. And we do need to question what is before our eyes, especially when the things so widely accepted like Christmas and Easter are actually false teaching and lies.

Too many false teachers over the ages have brought in lies and falsehoods, calling them doctrine, and today they are accepted without question. They need to be questioned to divine truth from error. They need to be weighed up against the truth that is found in the bible to ascertain whether they are of the truth or lies.

This is a responsibility we all have as individuals, and when we find the truth we must also speak the truth with everyone.

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